Petr Cech returned to full training on Tuesday as André Villas-Boas prepared his Chelsea squad for the trip to Sunderland on Saturday. New signing Raul Meireles was also involved, as was David Luiz.

Meireles, a £12m signing last week from Liverpool, had been troubled by a collarbone problem and Luiz has been missing this season due to a thigh injury. Chelsea's thin goalkeeping cover for the experienced Cech makes his potential availability welcome as the club hope to build on a start that has yielded seven points from their first three matches.

Cech had been ruled out for up to a month after damaging knee ligaments in a training-ground collision in August, but the 29-year-old has made a rapid recovery and Chelsea will monitor his progress this week.

Since Cech's absence following the goalless draw at Stoke City on the opening day of the campaign, his understudy Hilário has failed to keep a clean sheet and conceded two, with his error allowing Norwich City to equalise during Chelsea's 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge.

Meireles trained with Chelsea on Tuesday morning after returning from international duty with Portugal when he played the full 90 minutes, and could make his debut at the Stadium of Light. Luiz is also available, training after returning from international duty, during which he was an unused substitute in Brazil's 1-0 win over Ghana at Craven Cottage on Monday night.

Gaël Kakuta, who signed for Bolton Wanderers on loan from Chelsea, has said he had to leave the club in order to play regular first-team football. The 20-year-old made the decision following advice from Daniel Sturridge, who also spent time at Bolton on loan last season.

Kakuta said: "When you're young you have to be patient because you have big players at Chelsea that have lots of international and club experience. There were about seven or eight players in front of me with experience and that is the reason I came here. We will see what the coach [Villas-Boas] will do, whether he will keep everyone or move some players.

"But I need to play as I am 20 years old. I need to get some experience and not play just 20 minutes a week. Bolton is a great club. I chose to come here because I think it is the right place for me to come to improve. I was supposed to go to Fulham [where he played on loan last season] and at the last minute Chelsea told me Bolton were interested.

"I asked Daniel how Bolton was and he said the people here were great and I would enjoy it a lot. He said the coach [Owen Coyle] gave him a lot of confidence. If he trusts me and gives me confidence I will be able to do my best."